In Ha Noi, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake remains the focal point of this year’s National Day celebrations. On the afternoons and evenings of September 1 and 2, at Ba Kieu Temple Flower Garden, in front of the Monument to the Determination to Sacrifice for the Fatherland, artists from the Ha Noi Cheo Theatre are presenting a carefully curated selection of performances for the ever-growing crowds gathering here.
Beyond the city centre, residents in many suburban wards and communes also have the opportunity to experience professional performances close to home. The Thang Long Song and Dance Theatre is performing at My Dinh Square, the Ha Noi Cai Luong Theatre at Thong Nhat Park, the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre at Lac Long Quan Flower Garden, while the Ha Noi Drama Theatre is bringing its programme to Phuc Son Commune.
Alongside professional stages, visitors can persue an array of exhibition spaces. “Radiant Viet Nam” at the 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Exhibition House, running until September 6, retraces the country’s transformations. “A Millennium of Heritage” at the Temple of Literature – Imperial Academy features more than 120 lacquer, silk, do paper, and woodcut works by 50 artists. At Hoa Lo Prison, meanwhile, historical witnesses are meeting and conversing with visitors alongside the exhibitions “Steel Pen, Red Heart” and “A Region of Memories”.
For families with young children, outdoor entertainment venues are a top choice. The Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Dong Mo is captivating visitors with its special annual programme themed Vui Tet Doc Lap (Independence Day Celebration), featuring folk songs and dances, traditional crafts, and a recreation of a miniature highland market in the heart of Ha Noi. The “Fairy Tale Flower Land” festival at Bao Son Paradise Park concludes on September 2. At West Lake Water Park, children are delighting in amid fire circus performances. Meanwhile, at Tuan Chau Ha Noi (Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai), the “Quintessence of Tonkin” outdoor show takes visitors back to the cultural and everyday life of the Red River Delta.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the National Day atmosphere is equally lively. The Ho Chi Minh City Museum is deploying near-field communication (NFC) technology, allowing visitors to access information on individual artefacts simply by tapping their phones. At the Cu Chi Tunnels, the K’Ho ethnic community from Langbiang, Lam Dong, is bringing gong performances and xoang dances to the former revolutionary base for a cultural and culinary exchange, with activities running through September 2.
The festive atmosphere is not confined to the two major cities but is radiating across the country, with each region adding its own distinctive character.
In the central region, Hue concluded the Hue Wonderverse Music Fest 2026, an international music and heritage festival, on September 1, following two free nights of major concerts at the city’s Sports Centre Square. Domestic and international artists joined forces to bring the values of this distinctive heritage destination to life. At the same time, Hai Ba Trung pedestrian street was also awash with exuberance during an impressive artistic programme celebrating National Day.
Further into the Central Highlands, in the area of the former Phu Yen province, now part of Dak Lak Province following the merger, the celebrations began on the morning of September 1 with the Tuy Hoa “Sunrise by the Sea” Run, drawing 2,000–3,000 athletes to Nghinh Phong Square. Down on the coastal city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa hosted an artistic programme on the evening of September 1 to celebrate the August Revolution and National Day at April 16 Square. On the evening of September 2, the stage will once again light up at April 2 Square.
In the north-western region, Co Ma Commune, Son La, inaugurated the “Co Ma Highland Market 2026” on the morning of September 1. Running for three days, the market features 40 stalls from Co Ma, Long He, and Muong Bam communes. More than simply a venue for trading agricultural and OCOP products, the event provides an opportunity for people from different ethnic communities to meet, showcase traditional clothing, and compete in folk sports and games such as tug of war and pa pao ball throwing, before coming together for cultural and musical exchanges through September 2.
